Major League Baseball now has it’s first $324 million starting pitcher as Gerrit Cole has agreed to a 9-year deal with the New York Yankees that gives him the biggest contract ever for a pitcher.
The former Astro had long been sought after by Brian Cashman and the Yankees. News finally broke shortly after 9 p.m. on the West Coast on Tuesday night, where there Winter Meetings are happening in San Diego.
Cole’s 9-year, $324 deal makes him just the fifth player in MLB history to have a deal be over the $300 million mark.
His deal comes just over a day after Stephen Strasburg signed a 7-year deal worth $245 million with the Nationals.
Cole, 29, went 20-5 last year for the Astros and was 15-5 in 2018.
The MLB world reacted to his deal with the Yanks:
With his reported nine-year, $324 million contract, Gerrit Cole will be making:
• $1.09 million per start
• Over $169K per inning pitched
• Over $110K per strikeout
• $9,200 per pitch thrown(based on 2019 totals) pic.twitter.com/285vccNXXO
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 11, 2019
Eleven years after the Yankees got CC Sabathia on a record-setting deal for a pitcher, $161 million, they paid double to get Gerrit Cole, for $324 million.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 11, 2019
Gerrit Cole and the Yankees have agreed to a record nine-year, $324 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
At the reported $36M AAV, this would be the highest average annual value of any $100M contract in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/8VVvq6ArpP
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 11, 2019
Gerrit Cole cost $1M less than Angel Stadium and the 133 acres of ripe, undeveloped land that surrounds it. Unreal.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 11, 2019
Gerrit Cole signs for $324 million, roughly the same as the US box office gross of Suicide Squad. Sincerely hope he turns out to be just as good.
— Brian Gewirtz (@bfg728) December 11, 2019
.@Ken_Rosenthal on the Yankees pursuit of Gerrit Cole:
“The Yankees just bullied (LAD) and bullied everyone else.”
Back to the being the Evil Empire.
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) December 11, 2019
The Yankees went full CC with Gerrit Cole. They just blew every other team outta the water. https://t.co/4ZZS01kkgi
— Steve Smith (@Steve_Smith24) December 11, 2019
Get a haircut and shave, @GerritCole45 ! Welcome to the @Yankees ! pic.twitter.com/XhGq9mHtAH
— Trevor Alley (@TrevorAlley2) December 11, 2019
Goodnight @Yankees twitter. We have landed the Alpha. #GerritCole pic.twitter.com/2nDX70zk1G
— … (@LaScopes) December 11, 2019
36 mill a year. HOLY SHNIKES it's good to be Mr. Cole. #PinstripePride #GerritCole pic.twitter.com/3ViL2O1YlQ
— Sally Bugs (@liquorthinkin) December 11, 2019
Evil Empire is back! The most feared pitcher in the @MLB is ours! Welcome @GerritCole45. Everyone is on notice. Gonna need more than a trash can to beat us. #Yankees
— Johnny k (@johnny_Kes) December 11, 2019